Shoe



Dec.'16, 1941.

w. A. RIESS 2,266,476

SHOE

Filed July 2, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A iiorney Patented Dec. 16, 1941 UNITED STAT ES PATENT OFFICE '2 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in shoes and the principal object in view is to provide a shoe with built-in means for setting up a circulation of air through the interior of the shoe to cool the foot and obviatethe evils arising from perspiration, all without exposing the foot to the outside air.

Still another object is to provide a shoe equipped for attaining the results above set forth and also for circulating medicated air around the foot so as to obtain curative results in con.- nection with various foot diseases.

Other objects are to provide a shoe for the above purposes which is comparatively simple in construction, durable, comfortable and inexpensive to manufacture and repair.

Other and subordinateobjects are also comprehended by my invention, all of which, together with the precise nature of my improvement will be readily understood when the succeeding description and claims are read with reference to the drawings accompanying and forming part of this specification.

In said drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation, partly broken away, of a preferred embodiment of my invention,

Figure 2 is a view in longitudinal section drawn to an enlarged scale,

.Figure 3 is a view in top plan, of the filler sole and outer sole,

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 2 of a modified form of the invention,

lzl'igure 5 is a view in top plan of the insole, an

Figure 6 is a similar view of a modified form of filler sole. 6

Referring to the drawings by numerals, the

shoe of my invention, in the preferred embodiment thereof, comprises an outer sole 2, a heel 3, an insole 4 and a filler sole 5, the filler sole 5, as will be understood, spacing the outer sole and insole a substantial distance apart and said outer sole overlying the heel 3. The top I, outer-and inner soles 2, 4. and heel 3 may be made of any suitable material.

The heel 3 is provided with a central, preferably circular, well 6 in the top thereof and with a circular through opening I therein below the well and concentric thereto, opening I accommodate a syringe 8 of suitable resilient material. such as rubber'composition, includinga bulb 9 accommodated in the well 6 with the requisite clearance for expansion and contraction and extending through registering The well 6 and 7 circularapertures "I, H, in the heel ends of the outer sole 2 and filler sole 5, respectively, with its upper end bearing against the bottom of the insole l and provided with a forwardly extending short nipple l2 interposed between said outer sole and insole. The bulb 9 seats at its lower end in a concave socket forming part of a cup-shaped button I 3 slidably fitted in the heel opening I to extend below the bottom of the heel 3. A circular central flange I4 on the button l3 fits into the well and flat against the bottom thereof. The described syringe is preferably rounded with a flat top, as regards the bulb 3, and is designed to be partly filled with a suitable medicated compound C of preferably gelatin-like constituency.

The filler sole 5 is provided with a central, longitudinal, through slot l5 therein extending from the aperture l0 vto within a short distance of the toe end thereof and a cross slot l6 branching integrally with the button from both sides of the slot. 15 adjacent the front end of the latter and positioned to underlie the ball of the foot, said slots l5, l6, as will presently more clearly appear forming air distributing channels.

The insole 4 adjacent the toe end is provided with a single air outlet openin'g l8 centered in the front end of slot l5 of filler sole 5, a transverse row of similar apertures in the ball part thereof, designated l9 and aligning with the cross slot I6, and a longitudinal row of similar intake apertures 20in the instep part thereof aligned with the slot l5. v

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, as shown in Figure 2, the button I3 is formed separate from the bulb 9.

In the modified form of the invention shown in Figure 4 the bulb 2| of the syringe 22 is formed In the modified form of filler sole shown in Figure 6, said sole has suitably embodied therein around the edges of the longitudinally extending slots 24 and the cross slots 25 and extending into the instep part of the sole an insert 26 of rubberized, medicated material.

As will be understood, in both instances, the filler soles are formed of resilient cushioning material. I

The manner in which my described sole operates will be readily understood. When tne heel 3 is brought down in walking, the button l3, or 23, of the syringe 8, or 22, is engaged with the ground thereby compressing said bulb so that medicated air is ejected therefrom by way of the nipple'thereof into the slots l5, H5, or 24, 25, to

discharge from the latter through openings, 18,

step portion of the foot, or main arch, the weight being taken off the same, rises in the shoe and uncovers the intake apertures 20 so that fresh air, entering the shoe upper around the ankle, may be sucked through the apertures 20 into the syringe 8 under expansiomof the latter. Thus, in walking, fresh medicated air is circulated through the shoe upper as will be clear.

With the form of filler sole shown in Figure 6,

the air is additionally medicated by passage past the insert 26. Thus the foot is cooled and at the same time treated with a medium for keeping the same healthy. The resiliency of the filler sole permits theinsole 4 to compress the same under the weight of the foot so that the air in the slots I5, IE, or 24, 25, is forced upwardly out of the same by Way of said openings l8, I9, 20.

When the foot is lifted and the sole structure relieved of weight thereon; the button l3, or 23, expands and returns to normal position so that air from the inside of the shoe is drawn back into 'the bulb by way of the openings and said slots. The foregoing will, it is believed, suffice to impart a clear understanding of my invention without further explanation.

Manifestly the invention, as described, is susceptible of modification in other respects than as set forth herein, and right herein reserved to such other modifications as fall within the scope of the subjoined claims.

What I claim is: 1. A shoe comprising an upper, a heel having forming an air passage in said sole for conveying air from the heel to the toes of the foot, said slot having oppositely extending lateral branches adjacent the front. end thereof forming air passages beneath the ball portion of the foot, an insole on top of said intermediate sole provided with perforations therein establishing communication between said slot and branches and the interior of said upper, an expansible and contractible air bulb in said well having a discharge nipple extending out of the apertures of said outer and intermediate soles into the rear end of said slot, and means to compress said bulb under the action of walking comprising a plunger slidably mounted in said counterbore for movement inwardly thereof under engagement with the ground and having a lateral flange normally seating on the bottom of said well under expansion of said bulb.

2. A shoe comprising an upper, a heel having a top bore therein forming a welland a through counterbore in the bottom of the well, an outer sole having an aperture therein fitting around the edge of the well, an intermediate resilient sole apertured in correspondence with the outer sole and having a through longitudinal slot therein extending from the aperture thereof and forming an air passage in said sole for convey: ing air from the heel to the toes of the foot, said slot having oppositely extending lateral branches adjacent the front end thereof forming air passages beneath the ball portion of the foot, an insole on top of said intermediate sole provided with perforations therein establishing communication between said slot and branches and the interior of said upper, an expansible and contractible air bulb in said 'well having a discharge nipple extending out of the apertures of said outer and intermediate soles into the rear end of said slot, means to compress said bulb under the action of walking comprising a plunger slidably mounted in said counterbore for movement ina top bore therein forming a well and a through counterbore in the bottom of the well, an outer sole having an aperture therein fitting around the edge of the well, an intermediate resilient sole apertured in correspondence with the outer ,sole and having a through longitudinal slot therein extending fromthe aperture'thereof and wardly thereof under engagement with the ground and having a lateral flange normally seating on the bottom of said well under expansion of said bulb, and an insert of medicated resilient composition in said intermediate sole bordering said slot and branches for saturating air in the same.

WALTER .A. RIESS. 

